Private sector partnership strengthens national response to hunger crisis amid worsening food insecurity.
By Burnett Munthali
NICO Group, in partnership with NBS Bank, has donated K400 million to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) through the Ministry of Finance, in a significant move to support government efforts to address food insecurity across the country.
The donation ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Ministry of Finance offices at Capital Hill in Lilongwe, where officials from both institutions and government gathered to reaffirm their commitment to national resilience and social responsibility.
Speaking during the handover, NICO Group Chairperson Dr. Elias Ngalande said the contribution forms part of the Group’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, aimed at giving back to the community and assisting vulnerable Malawians affected by hunger.
“This donation is part of our responsibility to give back to the people we work with. These are the same communities that support our business, and we believe it is right to support them in times of need,” said Dr. Ngalande.
He further emphasized that NICO Group and NBS Bank remain committed to responding to national challenges, including food insecurity, and called upon other private sector players to join forces with the government in alleviating hunger.
“We urge other private institutions to come forward. Combating hunger is a shared responsibility, and no single organization can manage this challenge alone,” he added.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the government, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, and Decentralisation, Joseph Mwanamvekha, commended the two institutions for their timely and generous contribution, describing it as a powerful example of private-public partnership in addressing humanitarian needs.
“We thank the Chairperson of NICO Holdings Limited and NBS Bank, and the entire staff from both institutions for this K400 million donation,” said Mwanamvekha.
He noted that the donation comes at a critical time, following President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s declaration that Malawi is facing a hunger situation expected to affect a significant number of households.
Mwanamvekha further announced that the donation will be managed by World Vision and will be directed towards the purchase of maize for distribution to affected families across the country.
He also reassured Malawians that the government is implementing long-term measures to strengthen food security, including agricultural financing initiatives and productivity enhancement programmes targeting smallholder farmers.
According to the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC), the nation requires approximately K387 billion to address the ongoing food crisis.
So far, contributions from development partners, civil society, and private sector institutions have helped narrow the funding gap, leaving about K140 billion still required to fully meet the country’s humanitarian needs.
The partnership between NICO Group, NBS Bank, and the government underscores the critical role of the private sector in national development and highlights the importance of corporate solidarity in times of crisis.
As Malawi continues to grapple with food insecurity worsened by climate shocks and economic pressures, such initiatives reflect a collective commitment to ensuring no household is left behind in the quest for food security and national stability.
